Pool liner



NOV. 17, A, E, POOL LINER Filed Feb. 26, 1968 mvmvrrm. 444M :7 $19 045 Y Blame-4 BIG/rm.

United States Patent ()flice 3,540,274 Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,274 POOL LINER Allan E. Shore, Scarsdale, N.Y., assignor to Medallion Pool Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 708,105 Int. Cl. E04h 3/16 US. Cl. 4-172 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A means whereby the natural stretching of a vinyl pool liner is made substantially unnoticeable by the printing of an appropriate pattern on the material.

The present invention is intended primarily for use in connection with domestic swimming pools. There are several types of such swimming pools.

Originally, such pools were in essence a hole in the ground of substantially rectangular or other suitable shape. The walls and bottom of this hole were of cement or similar material made waterproof by impregnation with tar or the like. These pools suffered from several disadvantages. Any shifting of the ground beneath the pool caused the cement walls and/or bottom to crack and hence leak. Similarly, during the winter, rain followed by freezing weather would cause ice formation in the pool with the same result. Consequently substantial care was required and Waterproofing over and over again was a common necessity.

It was then found that by placing a plastic liner within the pool to act as a holder for the water filled therein these disadvantages were overcome. The plastic (usually vinyl) was flexible as Well as waterproof, and would yield in the case of freezing, and would not crack in the event of settling. Furthermore, in the event that the lining is torn, it is a comparatively simple and economical matter to patch it. Such a patch would be very similar in principle to that used on the inner tube of an automobile tire.

Furthermore, this type of pool could then be built above ground on a frame of any substantially rigid material, thereby eliminating the necessity for digging into the ground, as well as permitting a pool to be installed temporarily. When the season is over, the frame can be collapsed, the lining folded up, and the entire unit put away in storage. Needless to say, this type of pool has become increasingly popular over the years.

In order to make such pools more attractive in appearance, it has been desired to simulate the appearance of tile or the like at or near the water line and extending up over the lip of the pool. However, there has been one important drawback to this. The vinyl used has a tendency to stretch due to the weight of water which it at least partially supports. Therefore, if any regular pattern is printed on the vinyl, the horizontal straight lines will tend to become bowed downward as the vinyl stretches. This stretching in and of itself is not serious, but its etfect on the pattern is most undesirable and ruins an otherwise pleasing effect. This distortion of the pattern makes the stretching quite obvious and destroys the pleasing effect of the de sign.

It is among the objects of the present invention to render such distortion unnoticeable and to thereby permit the use of various patterns and designs on the upper portions of the pool liner.

The invention consists in the provision of a pattern having no horizontal straight lines. Preferably the pattern should have no straight lines whatsoever and should be of irregular shape throughout. In this Way, while the stretching of the vinyl will take place exactly as before, it will be entirely unnoticeable because of the irregularity of the pattern. At the same time the benefits of a pattern and the simulated concrete pool lip are achieved.

With reference to the accompanying drawing made a part hereof, the single figure is a partially broken-away sketch showing the liner and its backing with a suitable design indicated thereon.

The pool wall shown generally at 1 is composed of a backing 2 and a liner 4. The backing is either of concrete or any other rigid material, and the liner is preferably a vinyl plastic. In the figure, the water line is indicated at 3.

A pattern 5 is printed on the upper portion of the liner extending a short way below the water line as well as above it. Preferably, the upper portion of the pattern extends over the lip 6 and spreads horizontally on either the ground or a decking upon which the users of the pool may walk.

As can be seen in the drawing, the pattern consists preferably of a broken tile in which each of the elements is irregular in shape. As will be appreciated, the problem of vertical straight lines is not as acute as the problem relating to horizontal straight lines. It is therefore possible in the less preferred form of this invention to permit vertical or substantially vertical straight lines. The stretching of the vinyl which takes place primarily in the direction of arrow 7 will not be very noticeable when vertical lines are used. These lines will stretch along their length, which is not as serious as the bowing of horizontal lines.

It has been found that the pattern shown in the drawing is the most preferable known at the present time. It has the advantage of simulating the kind of real tile which might be found in and around a cement pool, while at the same time having no regular features such as would show badly when the vinyl sags. Clearly, the use of the broken tile pattern will lend an appearance of real tile which, of course, is much more expensive and hence luxurious. It is, nonetheless, possible to use almost any pattern which does not have regular figures and/ or straight lines.

As can be seen from the foregoing specification, the description of the present invention is exem lary only, and such variations as would be obvious to those having reasonable skill in the art can be made without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. The invention is to be broadly construed and not to be limited except by the character of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A liner for a swimming pool comprising a stretchable plastic layer, a contrasting pattern on said layer, said pattern composed of irregular figures randomly disposed, any straight lines of which are angularly disposed to one another whereby stretching of said layer produces no visible distortion of said pattern.

2. A liner according to claim 1 wherein said layer is 'vinyl.

3. A liner according to claim 1 wherein said pattern extends above and below the water line of said swimming pool.

4. A liner according to claim 1 wherein said pattern simulates the appearance of broken tile.

5. A method of inhibiting the observation of distortion in a liner for a swimming pool in which said liner 3 is of stretchable plastic comprising imprinting a con- 3,420,728 1/ 1969 Haverstock 161413 trasting pattern on said liner, said pattern consisting of 3,419,916 1/1969 Schankler 4-172 irregular figures randomly disposed, any straight lines of which are angularly disposed to one another. FRED MATTERN, Primary EXamllleI' References Cited 5 H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS US. Cl. X.R.

3,233,251 2/1966 Barrera 4172.19 4172.11; 161413 3,373,450 3/1968 Brooks 4172- 

